Chapter 18
Even in the frigid region of Betax, the spring breeze had begun to blow. With the sun lingering in the sky longer each day, the once-frozen earth softened, allowing tender sprouts to peek through the soil.
Lucas had remained in the outer castle of Pretus until the weather warmed for Leon’s sake, but he was growing increasingly anxious. His prolonged absence had caused work to pile up at the main estate, where his presence was urgently needed.
And now, with the harsh winter finally receding, preparations for their departure were complete.
Inside the carriage bound for the main estate, Lucas sat between two familiar companions—Lulu on his left and Leon on his right. Leon often transformed into his tiger form when near Lulu, but fortunately, he remained in his human form today.
As Lucas watched Leon play with Lulu, the carriage suddenly jolted, causing their bodies to pitch forward. Lucas quickly reached out to steady Leon, securing his waist.
“Leon, you need to hold on properly. You shouldn’t play around in the carriage.”
“Mmm… But if I fall, you’ll catch me anyway, won’t you, Lucas?”
Lucas frowned slightly at the remark, which sounded as if Leon had tipped forward on purpose.
“I’ve warned you. If you do it again, I won’t catch you next time.”
“…Okay. I’ll be careful.”
Chastised, Leon quickly retracted his tail, sneaking a glance at Lucas. He watched as Lucas gently stroked Lulu’s fur, speaking in a soft voice.
“Lulu, you shouldn’t play around either.”
Lucas’s tone toward Lulu was so gentle—why was he always so cold when speaking to Leon?
Leon had no desire to compete with a cat, but Lucas’s favoritism toward Lulu was undeniable! It was his first time feeling inferior to an animal.
And why did Lucas always use his name but still insist on speaking so formally?
Feeling increasingly sulky, Leon pouted and mumbled under his breath. Noticing his sulking, Lucas gave a faint smile and said,
“As soon as we return to the main estate, training will resume immediately.”
Leon, who had been swaying with the movements of the carriage, suddenly sat upright, his posture snapping to attention.
So, he had been leaning on purpose.
Eyes wide, Leon eagerly asked, “Training?”
“Yes. You’ve completed the basics of swordsmanship and falling techniques. Now, we’ll focus on controlling your ability to transform into a tiger.”
“Wow! Is that really possible?”
“…I can’t guarantee anything. We’ll have to see.”
Lucas’s uncertain response made Leon’s expression droop noticeably. Lucas, suppressing a small smile, added,
“I can’t remove the curse on my body, but I’ve learned how to live with it. I can even control it to some extent. If I can do that, Your Highness certainly can.”
“Then…”
Leon blinked, lost in thought. His long eyelashes cast delicate shadows over his golden eyes. What is he scheming now?
“That would be amazing! As a tiger, I can see better, hear better, and I’ll be even stronger!”
“…And why would seeing and hearing better be useful to you?”
“So I can see Lucas’s face better, hear Lucas’s voice clearer, and… if someone tries to harm you, I can bite them first.”
Lucas, stroking Lulu’s back as she curled up on his lap, let out a quiet chuckle.
Leon’s tendency to tie all his thoughts back to him was endearing, yet at the same time, his naivety was concerning.
The sound of the carriage wheels scraping against the ground became rougher—an indication that they were nearing the main estate. Lucas closed his eyes briefly, organizing the tasks awaiting him.
First, he needed to determine what triggered Leon’s transformations. Then, he had to assess the extent of his strength in tiger form… Ah, perhaps assigning him a room should come first?
He had ordered preparations for the prince’s chambers long before their departure, so they should be ready by now. Though Leon would be staying with him until he mastered his control, even a child needed a space of his own.
Lucas’s eyes suddenly snapped open.
Had he forgotten something?
Ah… Michelle.
He had failed to inform Michelle—the former Grand Duke—about Leon’s arrival at the main estate.
Though Lucas now held the title, Michelle’s authority remained undeniable. She had once ruled in his place, and her opinion could not be disregarded.
Deep in thought, Lucas glanced at Leon. The boy was giggling as he played with Lulu, his laughter ringing through the carriage.
Oddly enough, watching him made Lucas feel a little more at ease.
Michelle has a kind heart. She may be against Leon staying here, but she won’t abandon someone as innocent and cheerful as him.
With that reassuring thought, the weight on Lucas’s mind lessened slightly.
A Few Days Later – Inside the Grand Duchess’s Chambers
Within the grand chambers of the main estate, Michelle and her attendant, Emma, were engaged in a grave discussion.
With sleek black hair, a high-bridged nose, and dark eyes, Michelle bore a striking resemblance to Lucas. However, her expression was far from pleasant.
“My Lady, His Grace is currently in the greenhouse.”
At Emma’s words, Michelle struggled to sit up in bed. Though her injured leg didn’t confine her to bed entirely, her condition worsened whenever the seasons changed, making movement particularly difficult.
“What? Again today?”
“Yes. He has prohibited any attendants from entering and has taken a few monster hybrids with him, so no one knows what he is doing in there…”
Emma trailed off, hesitant. Michelle rubbed her temple in frustration.
She had a bad feeling the moment Lucas and Sion had left in a hurry for the outer castle of Pretus. And when she received the report that Lucas intended to raise the imperial prince of Teian here in the north? That was the last straw.
Upon hearing the news, Michelle had sent multiple messengers to the outer castle, adamantly refusing to allow it. But Lucas had never once responded.
And now, he had brought the prince here anyway. Not only that, but he and the boy were practically locked inside the greenhouse together day after day.
“So, you’re truly ignoring my words, Lucas!”
Though Michelle’s injured leg limited her movement, it did nothing to diminish the commanding presence of a dominant Alpha. When she raised her voice in frustration, it echoed throughout the room.
“I simply cannot understand it!”
She shook her head, exasperated. The Lucas she knew was wise and unwavering in his devotion to the nation. So why…?
No, she was sure there had to be a reason. If Lucas was hiding something from her, pressing him further would only make him defensive.
It would be better to confront him directly and demand an explanation.
Having made up her mind, Michelle pointed toward the crutch resting beside her bed.
“You intend to go out, My Lady? It would be unwise to strain yourself…”
“Enough talk. Hand it to me. I’ll go see the greenhouse myself.”
“…Yes, My Lady.”
Michelle braced herself against the crutch and stood. Her body felt unbearably heavy, as if she might collapse at any moment, but she could not afford to stay idle when a potential threat to the nation loomed before her.
Meanwhile, inside the greenhouse, Leon and Lucas were in the middle of training.
The space was so vast that it felt like an entire garden had been moved indoors. Lush greenery and rare plants, difficult to find even in the Imperial Palace, flourished within. Among them roamed the hybrid creatures Lucas had collected.
With glass walls and ceilings, the boundary between inside and outside was blurred—it felt as though they were standing beneath the open sky.
“Rawr! (This is amazing!)”
Leon sprinted across the greenhouse, then flopped onto the ground beside Lucas. Overhead, the sky gleamed a perfect blue. The songs of birds filled the air, and the scent of rich vanilla surrounded him.
Ah, Betax is heaven, and Lucas is an angel. This is perfect!
The soil beneath him was warm and soft as he rolled about in bliss.
But then, Lucas’s sharp gaze locked onto him.
“Get up. Training isn’t over yet.”
Lucas was kind, but when it came to training, he was a strict and merciless teacher.
Leon disliked being scolded, but more than that, he wanted to impress Lucas. So, during training, he never played around.
And because of that, just yesterday, Lucas had praised him.
“Well done. You’re certainly a fast learner.”
Lucas had told him that when his curse first emerged, he had struggled to control it, and people had collapsed around him as a result.
But after relentless effort, he had found a way to suppress the ominous energy. He had taught Leon that the first step to controlling himself was to relax his body, steady his breathing, and clear his mind.
That had been the very first lesson Leon learned—after a particularly embarrassing moment of excitement in his room had caused him to suddenly transform into a tiger.
